Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 4, 2018

Kareem Shaheen, The National: Turkey's Afrin operation could take months

Heavy fighting risks prolonged effort to clear Kurdish militants in northern Syria

Turkey's military offensive in the majority Kurdish enclave of Afrin in northern Syria could take many months rather than the few weeks originally planned, according to commanders on the ground.

Seven Turkish soldiers were killed on Saturday in attacks by Kurdish militias, making it the single deadliest day in the Afrin campaign so far for Ankara.

The deaths highlighted the challenges facing the military as it seeks to oust the Kurdish militias from its border with Syria, and the brewing geopolitical battle with the United States, a Nato ally, which had armed the same militias Turkey is now fighting.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 4, 2018

Turkish Civil Society Also a Casualty of Erdogan’s Afrin Campaign -- Aykan Erdemir, Foundation For Defense of Democracies

A Turkish war of America’s making -- Barak Barfi, Asia Times

Advancing separatists could restore South Yemen -- Bruce Riedel, Al-Monitor

Saudi crown prince's UK visit will throw spotlight on ties and tensions -- Patrick Wintour and Owen Bowcott, The Guardian

Assessing the Afghan War -- Derek Davison, Lobe Log

Afghan attacks 'want to spark uprising' -- Secunder Kermani, BBC News

South Korea Prepares To Spend $13 Billion On Winter Olympics. Is It Worth It? -- Samantha Raphelson, NPR

Hackers Have Already Targeted the Winter Olympics—and May Not Be Done -- Andy Greenberg, Wired

Guns, gold and gas: What UN sanctions target North Korea? -- DW

Sovereign wealth funds: just a way for China and Russia to flex muscles? -- James M. Dorsey, SCMP

How does Botswana fight corruption in Africa? -- News Grid/Al Jazeera

Europe’s defining choice on Poland -- Pawel Zerka, European Council on Foreign Relations

For Two Countries, The Dispute Over Macedonia's Name Is Rooted In National Identity -- Joanna Kakissis, NPR

In chaotic Venezuela, life is better in prison -- Jason Mitchell, The Spectator

The U.S. risks losing an Arctic cold war -- Peter Apps, Reuters

Boeing rolls the dice in China with 737 ‘finishing plant’ -- Grant Newsham, Asia Times

What a US-China trade war would look like -- Richard Javad Heydarian, Al Jazeera

How exposed deep-sea cables could leave the economy vulnerable to a Russian attack -- Brandon Knapp, C4ISRNet